Shloka 127

Veṅkaṭeśa-Māhātmya: Varāha Prelude, Descent of Śeṣācala, Svāmipuṣkariṇī and the Network of Tīrthas

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

जंबूफलसमाकारा पुच्छे सूक्ष्मा सबिन्दुका / चक्रत्रया च वदने पुच्छोपरि सचक्रका

Transliteration

jaṃbūphalasamākārā pucche sūkṣmā sabindukā / cakratrayā ca vadane pucchopari sacakrakā

Translation

ഇതിന്റെ രൂപം ജംബൂഫലത്തെപ്പോലെ; വാലിൽ അതിസൂക്ഷ്മമായ ബിന്ദു-ചിഹ്നം ഉണ്ട്. മുഖത്തിൽ മൂന്ന് ചക്ര-ചിഹ്നങ്ങൾ, വാലിന്റെ മുകളിലും ചക്രസദൃശ ചിഹ്നം ഉണ്ട്.

Word by Word

• जम्बूफलसमाकारा: having the shape like a jambu-fruit
• जम्बूफलसमाकारा: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जम्बूफल + सम + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg); विशेषण; समास: जम्बूफलस्य समः आकारः यस्याः (having a form like a jambu-fruit)

• पुच्छे: at/in the tail
• पुच्छे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुच्छ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc sg)

• सूक्ष्मा: subtle/small
• सूक्ष्मा: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg); विशेषण

• सबिन्दुका: with a dot/spot
• सबिन्दुका: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + बिन्दुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg); विशेषण; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (‘with a dot/spot’)

• चक्रत्रया: having three discs
• चक्रत्रया: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चक्र + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg); द्विगु-समास (‘three wheels/discs’)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (and)

• वदने: in the mouth/face
• वदने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc sg)

• पुच्छोपरि: above the tail
• पुच्छोपरि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुच्छ + उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय; स्थानवाचक (on/above the tail)

• सचक्रका: with a disc
• सचक्रका: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + चक्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg); विशेषण; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (‘with a disc’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Recognizing and venerating divine signs (lakṣaṇa) as supports for devotion and merit.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-upasana as an aid to steadiness of mind (citta-ekagrata) and purification (citta-shuddhi).

Application: Learn traditional identifying marks of sacred forms; keep worship objects pure; cultivate attentive, reverent perception rather than casual seeing.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.128; Garuda Purana 3.26.129; Garuda Purana 3.26.130

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Preta (subtle being)

FAQs

What is the importance of these wheel-like marks described in the Garuda Purana?

They function as identifying features (lakṣaṇas) of the preta’s subtle form, emphasizing that the post-death journey is described with specific, observable symbolic markers rather than as a vague abstraction.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By detailing the preta’s subtle-body characteristics, the verse supports the Garuda Purana’s narrative that the jīva travels after death in a distinct intermediary form, which undergoes experiences and recognition in the preta-journey framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages seriousness about śrāddha and post-death rites, and motivates ethical living (dharma) by reminding that actions have consequences experienced by the jīva beyond death in a structured afterlife process.